EAA/ANN AirVenture Innovation Preview

Unmanned Seaplane Could Be Used In Variety Of Roles

There may soon be another unmanned aerial vehicle coming to the
sky -- and sea -- near you. Warrior (Aero-Marine) Limited tells ANN
the company has made steady progress in the development of its Gull
UXV platform.

Using its experience in designing offshore racing multihulls and
the Centaur six-seat manned seaplane, Warriot states it has
successfully tested the Gull UXV platform in a wide range of sea
and wind conditions. There have been no incidents, and so far the
aircraft has proven docile and outstandingly seaworthy, according
to company officials.

Combined with Warrior's ongoing tests of surface launch &
recovery systems, the flight tests bring the objective of a
practical UAV system suited for integration to ship, within close
arms reach.

"As a result of attaching robust vessel capability to aircraft
speed and range, Warrior is generating a list of new ways to
add value to unmanned systems," said James Labouchere, Managing
Director of Warrior (Aero-Marine) Limited. "Gull extends the reach
of maritime payloads. It will bring payloads to bear quicker,
closer and more persistently. It will enable new and more effective
Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) in using multiple payload modules
and switching between air and water and relocating at high
speed."

Labouchere adds the Gull can leave and approach a ship at speed,
while on the surface. This enables simultaneous operation of UAVs
and other aerial systems (i.e. aircraft, helicopters and
munitions).

Once on station, the Gull is also able to switch between surface
and airborne roles in only a few seconds -- and to relocate on the
surface using aircraft speeds.

Warrior says it has focused on making the basic Gull platform as
capable as conceivably possible, in terms of seaworthiness,
performance and ease of use in the widest range of environments.
The success has done much to remove the reliance on complex
systems, though sensors and increasing intelligence will make the
system increasingly robust and capable in severe conditions.

Thanks to a series of follow-on contracts from the Ministry of
Defence's Defence Technology Council (DTC), Warrior has worked with
Roke Manor Research with regard to sensing technologies to aid
automated management on the surface in rough sea, and with Blue
Bear Systems Research in developing the 'SNAP' Surveillance and
Navigation Autopilot) and specialist robotics for the Gull.

The Gull 36 is expected to be the first of a series of seaplane
UAVs for contrasting payload modules and range objectives. These
payloads will extend from airborne and surface operated
reconnaissance, to dipping and towed sonar, to releasable and
recoverable payloads.